(Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) A display inside of the newly opened Denali shows the outdoorsy theme, with exposed timbers.

(Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) A display inside of the newly opened Denali shows the outdoorsy theme, with exposed timbers.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Image 7 of 8

(Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) The newly opened Denali on Main Street in Old Saybrook where the former North Cover Outfitters was for over two decades.

(Arnold Gold-New Haven Register) The newly opened Denali on Main Street in Old Saybrook where the former North Cover Outfitters was for over two decades.

Photo: Journal Register Co.

Image 8 of 8

Old Saybrook outfitter catering to outdoorsy types ready for long haul

1 / 8

Back to Gallery

OLD SAYBROOK >> When the sign went up announcing that outdoor outfitter Denali was moving in at 75 Main St., you could almost hear the cheers.

Since 2012, folks watched as the building, once home to North Cove Outfitters, sat vacant for months, was torn down and then finally rebuilt. Speculation about who was moving in ran rampant. The former store was an Old Saybrook landmark shopping destination and community supporter for 24 years when it closed. The loss was felt well beyond the town’s borders.

Now, the ground-up renovation is finally complete and the two-level 8,000-square-foot store opened for business amid much fanfare this past Memorial Day.

The new store is Denali/Trailblazer group’s seventh destination outdoor outfitter retail location in the southern Connecticut and Rhode Island area. Denali founder and owner Chris Howe opened his first store in 1995 but always had an eye on Old Saybrook because “it’s a great community with a long history of supporting the outdoors,” he said, adding that it was always just a matter of finding the right space in town.

“We are somewhat humbled by the response,” Howe said of the grand opening crowd. “I think people are very excited about having a store such as this in town and we are excited about the opportunity.”

The Denali philosophy goes beyond what’s on the shelves and focuses on community involvement. The Old Saybrook Land Trust received a Denali donation upon the store’s arrival in town, is the recipient of the proceeds from the grand opening raffle and had an informational table at the opening.

Mike Urban, OSLT president, said “North Cove Outfitters closing left a hole in the town’s retail offerings, the Old Saybrook Land Trust board and members hoped that another outdoor outfitter would move into the space. Denali has been very generous with us already and we believe they will be a help to our cause of protecting open space in Old Saybrook. We look forward to working with them to cosponsor events as we did with North Cove,” he added.

“We see Denali as a place for people to get outfitted as they come to town to hike in The Preserve, kayak on the waters and enjoy everything in the outdoors that life in the lower Connecticut River valley offers. It’s a win-win for everybody to have them in town,” Urban said.

Howe said they will offer organized hikes in the area and are excited about the permanent protection of the 1,000-acre property known as The Preserve, although the decision to locate in Old Saybrook was made prior to the completion of the 2015 conservation purchase.

Walking up to the Denali entrance past the patio with tables and seating is the first indication of what the store is about. The owner explains why tables and chairs are outside when food isn’t served. “We wanted to create a space where people in the community would feel comfortable. People can hang out informally on the patio or, in a little more structured way, in the community room,” Howe said. He envisions people coming to gather on the patio to chat and using the community room on the lower level for a wide range of events such as Boy Scouts and other meetings, classes, movies or any other number of activities, free of charge.

Opening the entrance door is the second indication that you’re not in a typical retail store. It takes the eyes a minute to adjust to the low lighting, then giant birch, maple and hemlock tree trunks emerge, suspended between the store’s two levels. The effect is of walking into the forest from a sunny meadow.

The theme is modern-rustic with lots of wood and metal. The displays are arranged to create interest and separation between brands and function. High-recognition outdoor performance brands such as North Face, Merrell, GoPro, UGG, Reef, Ray-Ban and Costa are well-represented along with lesser-known companies such as Osprey, Yeti, Toad & Co. and Lucy. The hard-core outdoor enthusiast is just as well served as the fashion-conscious embracer of “athleisure” wear, the cute gym-to-mountaintop-to-lunch-with-the-girls apparel that marries function and fashion and goes way beyond black yoga pants. There are also plenty of shorts, tanks, golf shirts, tees and easy-wear casual dresses.

Downstairs is the place for home-away-from-home amenities for on the trail or the rock face including tents, folding camp chairs, dehydrated foods, sleeping bags, water filter systems and packable camp stoves. The community room and restrooms are also on the lower level.

There is a little bit of overlap with some other local stores, but Howe believes they all have their niche and has seen this proven with shops other locations. “There are a lot of really amazing local specialty businesses in the area and we look forward to partnering with them for events to provide a cross-section taste of what this area has to offer,” Howe said. Denali has some hard goods but is very apparel- and footwear-based, he added.

Plans include partnering with “complementary businesses” such as Dagmar’s Bakery that has a space in the same complex, The Yoga Shop down the street and other businesses that are both directly and indirectly related to the outdoors. “The management team is very excited about creating opportunities that will result in building real long-term relationships within the community.